OK, so my bestie on the west coast sent me flowers for my birthday and they were so so so amazing and lasted over 2 weeks. YES, I know, that NEVER EVER EVER happens, and I have to share the name of this florist with you because (1) they were insanely beautiful (2) truly lasted for over two weeks. Thank you, bestie, thank you Scott’s Flowers — what an incredible florist!
First of all, look how incredibly beautiful they were when they arrived. Everything about this arrangement is perfect.
I had the most incredible New York experience on Saturday and I want to share it all with you! Not to brag, not even to humble brag, but to share. I had the rare opportunity to attend Saturday Night Live. A friend has a connection and when I heard that Connor Storrie (star of Heated Rivalry) was hosting along with Mumford & Sons on that specific day, I asked if she could do me a favor and get tickets. As it was the most popular show of the season (!!!), she was only able to get two but as a dear friend, said that Cruzzie (who just flew in for his Spring Break) could take her spot, and the two of us could go. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. ABSOLUTELY incredible.
Cruzzie flew in at 6 pm, had dinner, rested, and we had to report to 30 Rock by 10 pm.
My new all-time favorite bakery in the neighborhood is Birley Bakery. Everything about it is perfection. The downstairs is a little bakery — and the upstairs a tiny restaurant / cafe. Everything they sell is beyond delicious. For example, I don’t like almond croissants, but at least three times a week, I stop by and get an almond croissant. WHO KNEW? THEY ARE THAT GOOD.
Located on 69th between 5th and Madison — this bakery has the yummiest croissants, cookies, Madelines, cakes, bread, baguettes, everything.
OK, for my birthday earlier this week, one of my besties gifted me the most incredible experience and I have to share it with you all. She took. me to the new Guerlain Wellness Center in the new Waldorf hotel. And my god, was it beautiful. Not only that, it was such a special afternoon that I am dreaming of going back. It was so enjoyable — both the treatment (we got facials) but the whole experience.
Located on 50th and Park Avenue, the spa is on the 5th floor of the hotel, and it is like walking in to an oasis. So beautiful and serene.
There is nothing I love more than arranging flowers and being creative — so when I found a workshop on Christmas Wreath making, I knew I needed to sign up for it. It was SOOOOO much fun and I highly suggest doing something fun and creative like this in the Holiday Time. I loved every minute of it. This workshop was put on by Pop-Up Florist, a beautiful floral delivery service in NYC, at their new space, House of Three.
I didn’t take pictures of the actual physical space of the class — and I should have because it was gorgeous. Big, spacious, beautiful, welcoming. Then there were tables set up with all the items that we could use to make our wreath. All the different types of ribbons, ornaments, any kind of greens, etc…It was weaving AND creating at the same time.
My favorite day of the year in NYC — and this one did not disappoint — The NYC Marathon. Actually, New York showed off in any way and it was truly a magical day. I did not run — but cheered for 5 hours — and it was absolutely glorious.
My preparation for the marathon started on Saturday by watching Kipchoge’s documentary — he is my absolute favorite runner (and maybe even athlete, close to Nadal) and this documentary is so inspirational and incredible.
Last week, the New York Times published “The 25 Essential Pastries to Eat in NYC,” which of course, I studied top to bottom and figured out when I was going to each one of them. So last Friday, after teaching, I decided to head down to ChinaTown for a long overdue massage (my favorite place in NYC is Renew Day Spa) and a stop at Banh by Lauren to get the Bahn Bo.
First of all, this bakery / cafe was incredibly gorgeous. Located far east of chinatown, it stood out immediately with its beautiful green hues and sophisticated look. Walking in felt very peaceful — almost like a museum.
This past Sunday, I ran the first ever NYC Bakery Run. A half-marathon with 8 bakeries. Yep, the route covered 8 different bakery stops. All were incredible — and it was such a fun and different day! Thank you, Tipster, for putting together such a fun, successful and unique day!
The run was put together by Tipster. Tipster is a website and journal that is in the know of everything cool, hip, and new. This was their first issue in NY (It is based in Copenhagen) and it covered all the best bakeries. So it made sense that their big NYC start was a half marathon with 8 of these bakeries listed. We went to all of the ones listed above minus Apollo Bagel and Win Son Bakery.
Sorry for my absence last week — back in New York, back to school (for both me and the kids!), back to figuring out the schedule and the flow. And hardest part — back to waking up so early! but now, I AM BAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKKK. Here is what I am currently loving this month.
1. US Open
Yes, the US Open just ended yesterday, but it is my favorite two weeks in the city. And my favorite night is always with my favorite lady, Mrs. Mason. This night is hands down, so fun, and now I get to enjoy it with Tusia who LOVES Mrs. Mason, and LOVES tennis.
I have a lot of favorite desserts, but one of my TOP favorite desserts is key lime pie. And now just any key lime pie, but Steve’s Key Lime Pie. Steve’s pies are sold at dozens of stores in Manhattan, but if you want the freshest, then you have to travel to Red Hook in Brooklyn to his store. Yep, 30 minute drive — but oh so worth it. Especially on a beautiful sunny day, nothing beats eating Steve’s Key Lime Pie with the water view.
We used to come out to Red Hook every weekend to grocery shop, walk around, and feel like we lived in the burbs. Now, it is a fun adventure to go just to look out at the water and eat pie.
May here we are! (or Mid-May, here we are!) This is what I am loving right now.
1. Murals in the city
Murals. Love Biggie.
This past weekend, we wined and dined in some new restaurants — both of them we loved and would return in a minute. Therefore, needed to tell you all, as both are special and must visits.
Located on the 4th floor of Louis Vuitton’s NYC flagship, this cafe is a gorgeous location to have a special meal.
Tusia did her hair and looked gorgeous for our mother-daughter Good Friday (aka no school) date.
If you are in NYC before July 13th, I highly recommend stopping by the Jesse Krimes: Corrections exhibit at the Met. It is the best exhibit I have seen in a long time — and the story behind it is amazing. And even if you don’t have the chance to see the exhibit, I highly recommend learning more about Jesse Krimes (from this post, but also the other articles link, etc…) — he is someone to know of! Long story short, Jesse was put in prison for selling drugs, and during this time, he created art with the items he has access to while in prison.
This piece, called “Purgatory” is when Jesse was in solitaire confinement for a year (awaiting trial as he could not afford bail). He created this with bars of soap and decks of cards — and put the faces of people from the paper using hair gel to create an impression on to the soap.
My 7th grade daughter, Tusia, has been on the search for the perfect rings for quite some time. Problem is, she has tiny little fingers, and we didn’t want to break the bank with a ring. So when I remembered Catbird — a Brooklyn based Jewelry company that I fell in love with two decades ago, I knew it was the perfect place for us to go look at for rings. And it was EVERYTHING and more than we had hoped for. The staff was incredible, all the jewelry beyond perfect, reasonable prices, and exactly what we were looking for.
We ended up getting two rings so she could stack them. She wanted them on her pointer finger — and they literally had every size imaginable — so it was perfect.
YUMMMMMMM. One of my family’s favorite food items is chocolate croissants — I mean, WHO doesn’t love chocolate croissants??? So when in the Flatiron area of Manhattan last Friday, I fell upon not one, but two, different bakeries, that were so beautiful and scrumptious, that I had to get something at each. First off….
The store looked like a museum. On the ground floor, there was a sit down cafe, and to order take out, you walked up the stairs to where the baked goods were all displayed and where you placed the order. Even the bags are beyond chic and beautiful.
At the VERY start of break (yes, I am very behind on all posts and catch ups), we went to one of our favorite dumplings spots, Din Tai Fung, and also to a fun immersive art experience, Luna Luna. I highly suggest going to both — for taste, color, experience!
Luna Luna
Lots of color — and super cool to learn about everything. (It was VERY cold and we stayed in our coats the entire time)
There is nothing more awkward than me taking a selfie, but here it is! Me and a selfie wearing sunglasses. I recently discovered Eva Masaki sunglasses and I love (that said, my daughter hates them on me and is not a fan). They are a statement, but sometimes, it is fun to change things up and have a different look, and these are definitely different than my normal sunglasses I wear.
Awkward photo. Cute glasses.
One of my favorite days of the year in NYC is Marathon Day. There is an electric feel everywhere you go — so many people with smiles, cheering people on for accomplishing something they dreamed of doing, an inexplainable excitement. Truly a magical day in the city. The second best thing to RUNNING the marathon, is cheering all the runners on. Since this year, I ran the Chicago Marathon and have been dealing with a nagging injury (I can barely run right now, which is devastating, but resting it is the best thing for it), I opted out of running the NYC marathon, and instead cheered everyone on. And what a glorious day it was! With Tusia and two of her friends, we decided to make signs to go cheer everyone on at mile 25. Making signs was a great activity in itself!
The first problem was trying to find poster board. We didn’t think about making signs until. the day of, and on Sunday morning, no store nearby had poster boards. So I had to get creative with how to make a poster board — in this case, I had a big gift bag, that I cut into parts, put white paper on the side, and taped it all together. You do what you gotta do!
Part two currently loving, here we are! Short week (traveled back from CA on Monday and it has flown by!) and yet felt like I accomplished quite a bit. Here is what I am loving part deux.
1. Clever Scaffolding in NYC
HOW SMART AND COOL IS THIS scaffolding on the Louis Vuitton store? GENIUS.
What a treat! A last minute trip to Storm King — 500-acre outdoor museum located in theHudson Valley — where I have visited with the family several times before but this time, I went with some friends, and had a personal guided trip which meant GOLF CARTS, not excessive walking, so much interesting information. Highly recommend making the trek to visit Storm King — especially in the Fall foliage and glorious colors — and if you can get a tour, even better. I feel like I attended a class and learned so much.
The leaves, the colors, the sunshine, the art!
I received the most beautiful and unique bouquet of flowers this past weekend from a friend that I *knew* I needed to share this florist with you all the moment I saw the bouquet. POPUPFLORIST.
Look at this beauty!
I have been dying to go to the Brooklyn Museum’s newest exhibition (Alicia Keys and Swiss Beatz Private Art Collection) since it opened three weeks ago. So this past Saturday, in a crazy rainy downpour, I ventured to Park Slope to see it. It took one hour by the subway, got absolutely sopping wet, had issues with my tickets, lost my umbrella, and STILL found it worth it.
OY was it rainy!!! You had to check in your umbrellas — meaning, you couldn’t bring them in to the museum. Unfortunately, the check in for the coat check was SO ABSURD that I left my umbrella in a corner (a risk) and lost it (dumb me). Which meant, that my trek home on the subway was even more wet, long, and smelly than it was coming to the museum. OY!
After our excursion downtown to Mercer Labs, we went to Chinatown for dim sum lunch. Through a friend I met on vacation (an Australian Chinese woman), we went to House of Joy. This was truly a cultural experience — very authentic — and I loved every minute of it.
Girls outside the restaurant. I love Chinatown, it has such character, flair, and high energy.
It was arctic temperatures in NYC this past weekend (and week!), which meant, finding fun indoor activities to get us out of the house. So with a little research, I found Mercer Labs, a new light and technology museum in TriBeCa. I had high hopes of this museum as the reviews were great — and it was even better than I expected. Mercer Labs is a 15 room immersive and interactive experience. Each room was SO cool and we absolutely loved every part of it. We stayed for a full hour, but could have easily been there a lot longer.
Everything about the museum was terrific — not just the exhibits, but the staff, the cleanliness, all of it.
